Bucked cowboys? You bet. Unconscious cowboys? On occasion. Bucked and nearly unconscious cowboys aiming to ride the next bull? It happens more often than you’d think, said Scott Houchin, Salinas fire paramedic and veteran Rodeo volunteer.

Houchin, who has volunteered for the Rodeo since 1985, said he has talked down his fair share of cowboys. Most avoid emergency treatment in favor of continuing the competition, he said.

He recalled one cowboy whose friends egged him on after a jolting fall, saying, “If you just put one foot on the bull that counts as a ride and you’ll get a little money.”

Ten to 15 minutes later, Houchin said he was finally able to convince the cowboy of the folly behind that idea.

“The man had been ejected from the bull and he was experiencing trauma to the head,” Houchin recalled. “His decision-making was questionable and he wanted to ride again. It was hard to explain to him when all he wanted to know was, ‘What was my score? Did I qualify?’ ”

It’s all in a day at the Rodeo, Houchin said. Behind the scenes, medical professionals from Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, University of California at Davis, the Salinas Fire Department, American Medical Response and the Justin Healers keep the cowboys in competing shape and run first aid for participants.

Wednesday, the team will kick off with a briefing about 30 minutes before the Professional Bull Riders take the Arena, Houchin said. Each subsequent day starts at 7 a.m. as cowboys practice and compete in roping, barrel racing, steer wrestling and other feats to qualify for that night, Houchin said.

Although the action plan can’t account for every possible moving scenario, Houchin said the Medical Committee devised a chain of command for certain instances. The process has continually improved over the years, he said.

“The Rodeo is a diverse event with high-risk activities,” he said. “We cover as much as we can but no matter what you plan, there are going to be situation that you can’t plan for. But, we can make sure the right resources get to the right call.”

Important to that is the Salinas Fire Department’s mobile command unit, which will be stationed at the Sports Complex and armed with surveillance cameras and communication equipment. The Salinas Police Department’s mobile command unit will provide similar assistance at the Sun Street Carnival.

Perhaps more visible will be the Salinas Police Department, which has 286 overtime positions filled to cover the Rodeo and related events, said Sgt. Ono Solis.

Filling those positions is a daunting process with only 148 sworn positions, Solis said. It’s predominantly Salinas’ officers who fill those roles with sergeants to supervise, he said.

Rodeo coverage for the Police Department began with the Brad Paisley concert last week when 14 officers covered the Arena. The next day, 15 officers and community service officers assisted in the Kiddie Kapers and Colmo Del Rodeo parades.

Sixty-nine officers will be required to staff four horse parades, and 61 officers will be needed to cover the Carnival for 10 days.

Overall, 188 officers will be dedicated to the Sports Complex this week, Solis said. For five days, 57 and 55 officers will staff the Arena and the Coors Bulls Xing Cantina, respectively. Fifteen officers will find spots over three days in the Crown Royal Saloon.

“During Big Week, there’s no vacation,” Solis explained. “We put out the OT for people to sign up and then (for) all the other slots, people are ordered in.”

Police presence is important to the public safety of the Rodeo, Solis said. The majority of officers’ responses are for public intoxication, fights and disturbing the peace. Rather than execute arrests, however, officers are encouraged to locate a responsible, sober friend or family member to take the individual home, Solis said.

“Taking someone to jail takes a lot of time and takes away from our resources (at the Rodeo),” he said.